I posted this earlier in another thread “Admitting my stupidity”. Since it entails more of my aviation exploits, I am trying to relocate it to this thread. I figured someone would enjoy my suffering. Unfortunately it does rehash a point I made in an earlier reply.
Cheers
[QUOTE=bugstrider;10445354]Cleaned and painted my oleo strut on the ol C-150 heavy. In manipulating the strut and removing the cross through bolt, allowed a crispy, crunchy ancient O-ring to shift. Thus causing it to leak hydraulic fluid hours after a nice paint job.
QUOTE]
Update! And more entertainment.
So I checked in with the shop that is resealing my front strut with a FAA/PMA kit that I provided. Now I fully understand that I am not a certified airplane mechanic. Everthing I am doing is under the direct supervision of an A&P mechanic. Nothing is structural and all are little no nothing jobs.
The nose strut is the first item to see the inside of a FAA repair station in years because I wanted to leave that job to the “subject matter experts” and my A&P is out of the state on a job for another month. I was suppose to pick up the strut last week but due to schedules, yesterday was the first chance I had to stop by before work. Logistically, its easier to utilize a shop by my office since I am there more on a daily basis. I also “DO NOT” trust the on field shop by my county rental hangar/home field due to shenanigans they have pulled with some of our older/veteran owners. Shops or people that do those types of things takes me to a very dark place where not very nice things begin to run through my head. I just become protective of our older generation. Anyway, back to the story.
I walk into the shop and I am greeted by “just the guy I needed to talk to”. Now, in the aviation world, that is like getting a message on your answering machine from your doctor saying “please call the office”. It’s never positive and usually leads to some form of bad news.
He proceeds to tell me that the threads stripped off of the “guide pin” which goes through the base plate of the strut.
In looking at the wee little nut, I am not sure how that was possible other than his high school ROP student assistant hit this thing with an air tool. I understand that there is now no physical way to determine the cause, age, corrosion, don’t force it just get a big ass tool and make it submit, who knows?!?
All I do know, is that the Cessna aircraft company wants $3,800.00 for this stupid thing. For an airplane that is valued between 18-20K, this is where owning one becomes a P.I.T.A. and borders on stupidity. And here I thought I thought Porsche’s were pricy to maintain. I guess where this makes me frustrated is that if a bolt is frozen, then take steps to carefully remove it without destroying an insanely expensive part. I know time is money but my god, common sense people. This is exactly why I like overseeing these types of things. It’s also another reason for me to go back to school at the local A&P school 50 miles away.
All of this was caused by me trying to cosmetically enhance the plane. Will I ever learn?
Luckily, I just found a viable replacement at our local aviation wrecking yard. Yup, we have one here is Sacramento. It’s the same yard the Mythbuster team got all of their aviation items for all the aviation myths. Chicken gun, spiral cut wing, etc.
Anyway, for the most part, it’s identical with the exception that it’s about 1/4” longer. Although, in taking a closer look, it seems that my original might have been machined sometime in its past. It’s all about the journey, right?
Original on the left, replacement in the right.
Original
Replacement
[emoji848]
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